Goodbye Nikka, Chip, Aurence & Merl... we fought bravely in the call center trench wars together, but time and chance happen to us all. Nikka, may the US prove to be a greener pasture to satisfy your "stated and unstated" needs. Chip, always let your bohemian rhapsody carry on. Aurence, the medical world braces itself for your dietary requirements. Merl, we will always be your extended family.
Happy Birthday, Maggie! Thanks for the 24-hour celebration at Mucho's... that was a head trip like no other. I have to remember to say "thank you" at the opportune moments...
You're on your way to Alberta, Canada, Tita Yoly, bon voyage! We'll miss you! Wolverine has never tasted a pizza like yours yet. God bless you on your journey!
Sales! I was able to sell insurance. Cool. I felt like Ewan McGregor in Big Fish: "If there's one thing you can say about Edward Bloom is that he's a social person..." After monitoring my call, my TL gave me a high-five and quoted Tom Hanks from Apollo 13: "And that, gentlemen, is how we do that." The thrill is definitely why I keep coming back for more. A call center agent said to us once, half-jokingly, that when you take calls, "The first is the most painful, then you start to enjoy the next, then you can't live without it. It's like..." then he trails off, smiling and winking.
Speaking of sales and thrills, my dad announced a new family venture: homemade dishwashing soap! As I remembered the character Wilbur Freeman from Big Fish speak of witches making soap out of children, my dad gives us a crash course on Business 101 - capital investments, product development, market testing, competition, marketing, and expansion. Though I support the new division of the family business (my dad is still a self-made management consultant), I can't help shuddering with the idea of expanding into "custodial management," where we could provide a plethora of cleansing materials... my friend Sandy had embedded that saying, "No one wants to marry a janitor" in my subconscious, and I shrugged it off by remembering that Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles as an example to be followed. Besides, The Family is prime priority.
It's all about looking at situations as problems or opportunities. Dad and us Sibs talked about the quick-mindedness of Chinese businessmen, and I thought of my friends Karlo and AA, shrewd success-stories in the making. Karlo the businessman, who once commanded a new motorcycle each month, was thrown a proverbial stone at his clay feet - he is in the trenches with me today until he can start over. AA, on the other hand, is more comfortable with the tactic I now refer to as "Chinese Takeout." For divulging that, I owe her a meal at Sbarro's.
Lastly, business - or life in general - is about having fun, enjoying the ride and looking for the thrill. Even Solomon agreed that life should be enjoyed, since life is so short and incomprehensible. What I liked best about Robert Kiyosaki's tale in Rich Dad, Poor Dad is the happiness he exudes throughout the book. It's like The Pursuit of Happyness, where the ending is truly happy because it is contrasted by the hardships at the beginning.
And that, gentlemen, is how we do that.
